Identify the lever class that has the load between the fulcrum and the effort.

• A. Second-class lever
• B. First-class lever
• C. Third-class lever
• D. Fourth-class lever

Answer: (A)

This question tests how lever classes are defined by the order of the fulcrum, load, and effort. When the load sits between the fulcrum and the effort, you’re dealing with a second-class lever. A classic example is a wheelbarrow: the wheel is the fulcrum at one end, the load sits along the bar between the wheel and the handles, and you apply force at the handles on the far end. Because the distance from the fulcrum to the load is shorter than the distance from the fulcrum to where you apply the effort, the lever provides a mechanical advantage greater than one—you can lift a heavier load with less force, though you must move the handles through a longer distance. The other arrangements place the fulcrum and effort in different positions relative to the load, which correspond to the other lever classes.